Page 103 of Mountain Protector

Holding Lark away from me, I inspect her from head to toe.

“I’m okay,” she says. “I’m not hurt. I’m okay.”

The relief is so great, I almost fall to my knees.

But.

The woman. The gun.

A growl rumbles in my chest as I move Lark behind me and take aim at the woman. “Don’t fucking move.”

“It’s okay, Knox.” Lark comes to my side and touches my arm. “I put the gun away. It’s in the office. Unloaded. Mrs. Vinnetti isn’t going to hurt anyone.”

What?

“I’m so sorry,” the woman—Mrs. Vinnetti?—cries. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I just—” She buries her face in her hands. “I miss him. Ivan wasn’t always like that. He was a good boy. He didn’t?—”

And she dissolves into sobs.

“I talked her down,” Lark says quietly, drawing my gaze. “She showed up asking for donations. I didn’t even think. Then she pulled out a gun…”

She shudders, and I pull her against my chest with one arm, still keeping my eye on the other woman in case she tries anything.

“She was upset,” Lark continues. “With it being Christmas, and her son gone… Well. She blamed me. But I told her what happened. About Ed. And we think Ed took advantage of Ivan.” In a low tone, Lark adds, “Paula said that Ivan struggled with drugs. Gambling. If he was in trouble and Ed?—”

I almost crack my molars. “He tried to kill you,” I bite out.

“I know. But that’s not Paula’s—Mrs. Vinnetti’s fault.I think she just… snapped. She lives alone, her husband is gone, and now with her son…”

It’s hard to believe what I’m hearing. After what this woman did, Lark is defending her.

Then again. I shouldn’t be surprised that my incredible, sweet, brave songbird would see the best in everyone.

“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Vinnetti repeats, her voice hoarse from crying. “I was wrong. I should never have done that.” She pauses and looks across the room at Lark. “I’m so sorry, Lark. And I’m sorry for what Ivan did.”

“It’s okay,” Lark replies. “We’ll figure this out.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from vehemently disagreeing. Nothing in this fucked up situation is okay.

Through the open front door, the sound of sirens approaches. An engine roars closer.

Several seconds later, Enzo and Gage come racing inside with guns drawn.

“It’s okay!” Lark calls to them. “Everything is over.”

Enzo shoots me a confused look. “Um. Knox. I thought this was an emergency?”

Gage eyeballs Mrs. Vinnetti with suspicion. “Is this the woman with the gun?”

“The gun is in the office, apparently,” I tell them. “Could one of you affirm? And the other stay on Mrs. Vinnetti until the police arrive?”

Lark tugs at my arm. “She’s not a danger anymore.” Then she whispers to me, “I want to help get her into treatment. Not jail. She just needs help.”

“Maybe she’s not a threat,” I reply tightly. “ But I’d prefer to be sure.”

“I’m okay, Knox.” Her eyes meet mine, and I can see the fear still lingering in her gaze. “I’m sorry I scared you. I didn’t know at first. I thought…”

Fuck. My heart is still racing.

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